…Hurry up! Get out... He's coming...Move out, now…I can't…Help me…. Please...Why!...Don't…………….

Rogue sat up in her bed, covered in sweat. She sat for a moment, taking in her surroundings in an effort to file her memories away. The hotel room in Manhattan had seemed cleaner at eleven thirty at night, she noted, but it wasn't like she would be there for long. She started her new job tomorrow.

I can't believe you're going back there. You'd think after what they did to you you'd want to stay as far as you could get from there.

"Carol, you know as well as Ah that it was either there or Iowa. The government can decahde it's done showin' compassion for us 'suhvavors' as quickly as it took tah do it in the first place."

Whatever, Rogue. They should give us more! That monster took my life and all they do is give you an apartment and dumb ol' job? Yeah right! After all the press the Mutant Experimentation Department got you'd think the last 2 remaining survivors would get better compensation! Let me go talk to them!

Rogue sighed, exasperated. "Yeah, Carol, Ah can see their faces now as Ah tell them. 'Sorry, Could you excuse meh for a second? The othah person living in mah mind would lahke to talk to you. She wants more benefits for what yah did tah us.' Yeah right." She paused, straightening the sheets around her, and then scolded her companion. "And what did I tell you about calling me Rogue?"

I know, I know, call you Anna so you get used to hearing it. I don't think even that will keep you incognito, anyway. What if you bump into any of them?

"Come on! The new ones won't even know who Ah am. No one will pay any attention to the high school art teacher."

You know that's not who I'm concerned about, Missy. You still love him; I can feel it in your mind. Will you tell him?

Rogue paused in wrapping her knuckles, and stood silent for a minute, staring into the dark room around her.

"He won't want to see me. He's probably got a new happy life, kids…"

You know he doesn't. Rogue, Anna, what…"

"Ah can't have him see me lahke this! Don't tell me you don't know why!" she yelled, then paused and ran her hands through her hair, "Carol-just let me have this, its better this way." She slowly got out of bed, and walked into the bathroom, her friend silent in thought.

"And Carol…" she paused, starting the shower and glancing at her haggard reflection in the mirror.

Yes Anna? Carol said placidly.

"We leave for Bayville in an hour."

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All adult X-Men report to my office please: Came the polite but demanding message delivered to all members of The Institute.

Kitty sighed and grabbed her husband's hand. "Like, port us."

Kurt instantly complied and they arrived in the office to see Jean, Scott, Dr. McCoy and the Weather Witch talking to the professor.

"Ah, welcome you two, we are just waiting on…" The Professor was interrupted as the door burst open.

"What is it, Chuck?"

'Chuck' chuckled at his colleague's antics, and then answered the question everyone had been wondering. "Well, it seems that Cerebro has confirmed that the new art teacher at the high school is indeed a mutant."

"What can you find out about him?" questioned Jean, curious about the possibility of a new addition to the mansion.

"Nothing but her sex and age. She has amazing mental shields."

Kitty sighed and glanced at the clock. She was going to miss her show anyway; she might as well pay full attention to the matter at hand.

"So…how, like, old is she?"

"Her approximated age is 22 years, 3 months and 3 days."

"That means her birthday is May 25." Jean quickly added. "Why does that sound familiar?"

Kurt sighed. "That was mein scheister's birthday. She is exactly the same age." Kitty reached up to give him a hug as Logan growled.

"So this girl is exactly stripes' age and she teaches art?"

"That doesn't mean anything." Scott finally piped up. "I mean, she's been dead almost for 5 years now, and more than two-thirds of the students have arrived since. All they know is her picture and her headstone."

"I think it's for the best if we forget about her," Jean added. "She's probably moved on, so should we."

As the office cleared, Kitty couldn't help but mutter under her breath. "And what if we don't want to forget about her?"

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Yes my children, I am writing again. That does not give you any reason, however, to harass me to finish Crucify My Love. I am working on the next chapter as you are reading this. It should be out in a couple of days.

Love, TRA